Around 100 construction jobs to be created by £18mn Beamish Museum expansion

Jan 11, 2018

Beamish Museum, in Chester-le-street, is set create almost 100 new jobs as part of an £18mn expansion.

The project is the largest in the museum's 48-year history and is due for completion in 2021.

It is designed to attract an extra 100,000 tourists to the region, with the Heritage Lottery Fund having provided a £10.9mn boost to the initiative.

Tradespeople, including bricklayers, stonemasons, general labourers, joiners, electricians and plumbers, are being asked to get in touch if they’d like to work on the Remaking Beamish project.

Construction apprenticeships will also be created, with the opportunity to learn alongside skilled mentors.

Work is underway on the development, which will see 30 new exhibits added in a 1950s town, 1950s farm, and expansion of the Georgian Landscape, including a coaching inn, where visitors can stay overnight.

An end-terrace shop from Bow Street, in Middlesbrough, is set to be replicated as part of the project.

The 1950s Town will feature a cinema – being moved from Sunderland – community centre, homes, shops, cafe, bowling green, and fish and chip shop.

Aged miners’ homes will provide a dedicated centre for older people, including those living with dementia.

Artist Norman Cornish’s former home will be recreated, including the studio he donated to the museum.

Up to 30 tradespeople will be working on four building sites at any one time.

"We're looking for qualified and experienced local tradespeople who would like the opportunity to work on this unique project.

"Our in-house Buildings Team have extensive experience in creating both historical and modern buildings but, to deliver a project of this size, we need to grow our construction capacity.

"We're looking for flexible tradespeople with extensive experience of working on large multi-site building projects.

“We'd like to hear from people who have an eye for quality and attention to detail and are available for short and long-term contracts.

"We are calling for expressions of interest from tradespeople who would like to join our trade register as directly employed labour and are confident they can meet the demands of working on this high-profile and exciting project."